S1982

An Act concerning instruction on the dangers of fentanyl and xylazine in public schools and supplementing chapter 35 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. This bill shall be known and may be cited as the “Fentanyl and Xylazine Poisoning Awareness Act.”

2. a. A school district shall include instruction on the dangers of fentanyl and xylazine in an appropriate place in the curriculum of students in grades six through 12 as part of the district’s implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.

b. The instruction shall include, at a minimum, information on:

(1) fentanyl and xylazine abuse prevention;

(2) fentanyl and xylazine poisoning awareness;

(3) the dangers of synthetic opioids, including fentanyl or any substituted derivative of fentanyl, xylazine, and counterfeit drugs;

(4) recognizing the symptoms of fentanyl and xylazine poisoning;

(5) how to respond to a fentanyl or xylazine poisoning emergency; and

(6) laws that provide immunity or other protections for persons who report drug or alcohol use, or who seek medical treatment for drug or alcohol poisoning or overdoses for themselves or others.

c. The Commissioner of Education shall provide school districts with age-appropriate resources designed to implement the requirement established pursuant to subsection a. of this section. Information for instruction on the dangers of fentanyl and xylazine shall utilize information and resources provided by:

(1) the National Institutes of Health;

(2) the United States Drug Enforcement Administration;

(3) the United States Department of Health and Human Services;

(4) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; or

(5) any State, county, or municipal department or agency.

d. The Department of Education shall post and maintain on its Internet website information on:

(1) instruction on the dangers of fentanyl and xylazine provided to school districts pursuant to subsection c. of this section;

(2) awareness and safety materials for school staff, students, and parents on opioid poisoning prevention;

(3) outreach organizations with resources concerning opioid awareness and opioid poisoning prevention; and

(4) preventative mental health resources available from applicable federal, State, county, or municipal departments and agencies.

e. The State Board of Education shall review and update the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education to ensure instruction on the dangers of fentanyl and xylazine is incorporated in an appropriate place in the curriculum of students in grades six through 12 as required pursuant to this section. The State Board shall also review the instruction required pursuant to subsection a. of this section every 15 years to determine if the instruction remains necessary.

3. The Commissioner of Education, in consultation with local school districts and the Commissioner of Health, shall submit an annual report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), on the implementation of the curriculum requirement established pursuant to section 1 P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply to the first full school year following the date of enactment, except that the standards adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to section 2 of this act shall occur concurrent with each update to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards required pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-46)1.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes the “Fentanyl and Xylazine Poisoning Awareness Act.”

The bill requires school districts to provide instruction on fentanyl and xylazine poisoning awareness as part of the district’s implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.

Under the bill, the instruction is required to include information on: (1) fentanyl and xylazine abuse prevention; (2) fentanyl and xylazine poisoning awareness; (3) the dangers of synthetic opioids, including fentanyl or any substituted derivative of fentanyl, xylazine, and counterfeit drugs; (4) recognizing the symptoms of fentanyl and xylazine poisoning; (5) how to respond to a fentanyl or xylazine poisoning emergency; and (6) laws that provide immunity or other protections for persons who report drug or alcohol use, or who seek medical treatment for drug or alcohol poisoning or overdoses for themselves or others.

Additionally, the bill requires the Commissioner of Education to provide school districts with age-appropriate resources designed to implement the requirements established under the bill. The information is required to utilize information and resources provided by: (1) the National Institutes of Health; (2) the United States Drug Enforcement Administration; (3) the United States Department of Health and Human Services; (4) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; or (5) any State, county, or municipal department or agency.

The bill requires the Department of Education to post and maintain on its Internet website: (1) information for instruction on the dangers of fentanyl and xylazine provided to school districts; (2) informational materials containing awareness and safety information for school staff, students, and parents, on opioid poisoning prevention; (3) information on outreach organizations with resources concerning opioid awareness and opioid poisoning prevention; and (4) preventative mental health resources available from applicable federal, State, county, or municipal departments and agencies.

The bill also requires the State Board of Education to review the required instruction every 15 years to determine if the instruction remains necessary and adopt standards concurrently with each update to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards.

Xylazine, commonly referred to as “tranq,” is a non-opioid sedative, or tranquilizer. While xylazine is not considered a controlled substance in the United States, it is not approved for use in people. The Federal Drug Enforcement Administration reported that xylazine and fentanyl mixtures place users at a higher risk of suffering a fatal drug poisoning.

It is the sponsor’s intent that this bill raise awareness of the dangers of fentanyl and xylazine and to honor the memory of Max Lenowitz of Woodcliff Lake, a beloved son, brother, and friend, and the thousands of other New Jersey residents who have lost their lives to fentanyl or xylazine poisoning.